Reservations, Fees & Passes
There are no camping facilities at Bolivar Dam.
Bolivar Dam is within the Upper Tuscarawas section of the Muskingum Area. It was authorized by Section 4 of the Flood Control Act (FCA) of 1938, as amended by Section 4 of the FCA of 1939. Primary project purposes are flood damage reduction, recreation, and fish and wildlife. Land includes 713 fee acres and 8,282 flowage easement acres. Corps of Engineers recreational facilities include a day use area. The dam was completed September 1938 and serves a drainage area of 504 square miles. The dam is a rolled earth-fill with impervious core, 87 ft. tall, 6,300 ft. long and 25 ft. wide at the top and 480 ft. wide at the base. The spillway is an uncontrolled saddle at the south abutment of the dam. The intake structure contains six 7 x 15 ft. gated sluices discharging through two 16 x 16 ft. horseshoe tunnels into a stilling basin. Other structures include Magnolia Levee which protects the town of Magnolia, 6.5 miles east of the dam; raised an additional 10 ft. after original construction. Total length of the levee is 4,877 feet; 4,383 ft. of rolled earthfill with impervious core, 31 ft. tall, 8 ft. wide at the top and 184 ft. wide at the base, and 494 ft. of concrete wall on sheet steel piling atop the old levee. Appurtenant works include two roadway ramps with hinged single-leaf gates at levee openings, a drainage ditch, pump station, and inlet and outlet structures through the levee for a millrace. Gate stand with sluice gates installed to back up flap gates on four 36-inch gravity flow conduits originally used. Two small industrial levees to protect Sparta Ceramic Co. and U.S. Quarry Tile Company in East Sparta, Ohio.
Recreation Opportunities
Visitor Center
There is no Visitor Center at Bolivar Dam.
Boating
There are no boat launch ramps at Bolivar Dam, there is a canoe livery downstream.
Camping
There is no camping at Bolivar Dam.
Day-use
Picnic sites are located in the Day Use Recreation Area at Bolivar Dam.
Fishing
Fishing is permitted at Bolivar Dam, with the best fishing done in the spillway area. There is a fishermen's parking lot at the downstream area.
Hunting
Public hunting and trapping is NOT allowed until construction is complete. The construction is scheduled to be completed in July 2018. If dates change updates will be posted here. For more information call the Project Office (330) 874-2121.
Marinas
There is no marina at Bolivar Dam.
Swimming
There is no designated swimming area at Bolivar Dam. Bolivar Dam is a dry dam.
Trails
Bicycles are permitted on main roads in the Park Area.
There are no marked hiking trails at Bolivar Dam, but hiking is permitted on the horse trail and surrounding woods
Rules & Regulations
General Policies
A full list of Federal regulations that apply to all US Army Corps of Engineers properties can be found in Title 36 of the United States Code (USC). Title 36, The Rules and Regulations that Govern Corps of Engineers Water Resource Projects
Firearms
Possession of firearms in a federal facility, including locks, dams, power plants, ranger stations, buildings, switchyards, recreation facilities, warehouses, and offices is strictly prohibited. This prohibition includes the storage or transporting of a personally owned firearm in controlled access parking areas or Government vehicles, heavy equipment, boats and vessels under the operational control of the District regardless of its location. Exceptions for Federal employees are only allowed for Federal law enforcement officers or where possession of a firearm is specifically authorized by law.
Fireworks
Fireworks, along with explosives, firearms and other weapons are prohibited on Government Property. Detailed information can be found in Title 36, The Rules and Regulations that Govern Corps of Engineers Water Resource Projects, Section 327.13.
Contact
Bolivar Dam
11614 Glen Park Road N.E.
Bolivar, OH 44612
pa2@usace.army.mil
330-874-9350